Sage Steele believes the singing of the Black National Anthem at major sports events like the Super Bowl only “promotes segregation” in America.

In a conversation with musician Reggie Watts on The Sage Steele Show, Steele took aim at the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — commonly referred to as the Black National Anthem — for being included in Super Bowl festivities for the last several years.

“I don’t like this whole Black National Anthem thing,” Steele said, prompting Watts to reveal he had no idea what she was talking about. “See? Well, it’s newer the last couple of years and it’s at the Super Bowl.”

When Watts jokingly called it a “blanthem,” Steele said that if it were called that, perhaps she wouldn’t consider it “ridiculous” and “divisive.”

“Dude, we’re one big melting pot,” Steele said. “This is good. Why are we now choosing to separate again when we’ve been in a tough time here the past several years, to say, ‘This is only our anthem, but y’all better stand up. Get your ass up.’ I think we’re all Americans and it’s our anthem; and all the immigrants from across the world that have come here stand up for our anthem. They’re all Americans.”

Steele then pointed out the fact that Watts didn’t even know what it was at first, proving that it’s “new” and “they’re shoving it down people’s throats.”

Though the song’s inclusion in sports is recent, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” has been has been known in Black communities since at least 1900. The NAACP recognized it as the “Negro National Anthem” in 1917, and that term has since been changed to the Black National Anthem.

The post Sage Steele Calls Out ‘Ridiculous’ Black National Anthem Being Sung Before Sports Events: ‘Why Are We Now Choosing to Separate Again?’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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